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Arsenal, on Sunday, edged out Chelsea with a 1-0 victory, bolstering their position in the Premier League title race.
This is in a fiercely contested London derby at the Emirates Stadium.
The decisive moment came in the 20th minute when Mikel Merino expertly headed in a corner delivered by Martin Odegaard, showcasing Arsenal’s set-piece prowess.
This goal not only secured the win but also highlighted Odegaard’s significant impact; the midfielder’s assist marked his fifth against Chelsea in Premier League play, surpassing club legends Cesc Fàbregas and Dennis Bergkamp for the most assists by an Arsenal player against the Blues.
Chelsea, grappling with the absence of key attacker Cole Palmer due to injury, struggled to penetrate Arsenal’s defence.
Their best opportunity materialized in the 37th minute when Marc Cucurella’s volley narrowly missed the target.
This victory solidifies Arsenal’s hold on second place, narrowing the gap to 12 points behind league leaders Liverpool, with nine matches remaining.
Conversely, Chelsea remains in fourth position, now just one point ahead of fifth-placed Manchester City, intensifying the competition for Champions League qualification.
“Mikel Merino’s first-half header was enough to win a hotly-contested London derby against Chelsea.
“The Spaniard – starting his sixth consecutive game up front – flicked in Martin Odegaard’s corner to give us a deserved lead on 20 minutes.
“There were few clear-cut chances for either side after that, though Merino came closest to doubling our advantage in the second-half, with a well-struck volley that Robert Sanchez batted away.
“But the one goal was enough to consolidate our second-position in the table, while also making it seven successive Premier League games against Chelsea without defeat,” a post-match report on the game from Arsenal’s website read.
Looking ahead, Arsenal shifts focus to their upcoming Champions League quarter-final clash against Real Madrid, aiming to carry forward the momentum from this hard-fought win.
“We don’t play again next month. The international players now join up with their respective national teams, and football resumes with the FA Cup quarter-finals, so we return to action on Tuesday, April 1 at home to Fulham in the Premier League,” it stated.
